Argyranthemum plant named ‘Wesaryel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘Wesaryel’, characterized by its compact, uniform, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Wesaryel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesaryel’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Argyranthemum cultivars with good vigor and strong branching habit, numerous inflorescences, desirable and unique floret colors, and good garden performance.

The new Argyranthemum originated from a cross-pollination in Südlohn, Germany of a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number 03P27, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number 03P17, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Argyranthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Südlohn, Germany in January, 2003. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Wesaryel have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesaryel’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesaryel’ as a new and distinct potted Argyranthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, uniform, outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored foliage.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more compact and have         shorter internodes than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more freely flowering         than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more freely flowering         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Argyranthemum have brighter yellow-colored         ray florets than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of the Argyranthemum cultivar Dana, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Dana in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were more compact and had         shorter internodes than plants of the cultivar Dana.     -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum had larger leaves than plants         of the cultivar Dana.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum had larger         ray florets than plants of the cultivar Dana.     -   4. Plants of the new Argyranthemum and the cultivar Dana         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar Dana         had white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of the Argyranthemum cultivar Wesarwhi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,440. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Wesarwhi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Wesarwhi.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum had more         ray florets than plants of the cultivar Wesarwhi.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum had more         phyllaries than plants of the cultivar Wesarwhi.     -   4. Plants of the new Argyranthemum and the cultivar Wesarwhi         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar         Wesarwhi had white-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Argyranthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wesaryel’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Wesaryel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in Südlohn, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial potted Argyranthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched about three to four weeks after planting. Plants used in the photographs and for the description were about five months old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar     Wesaryel. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number 03P27,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number 03P17,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 to 20             days at temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 18 to 21             days at temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy-type potted Argyranthemum.             Compact, uniform, outwardly spreading and mounded plant             habit. Strong and freely branching growth habit with lateral             branches potentially developing at every node; dense and             full plants. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 26.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length:             About 1 cm. Strength: Strong; young stems, flexible.             Texture: Young stems, smooth, glabrous; older stems, woody.             Color: Young stems: Between 146C and 146D. Older stems:             Between 147B and 147C overlain with 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Pinnatifid; serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137B. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 137A; venation, 137C. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 137C; venation, 137C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongated             oblong to broadly ligulate-shaped ray florets.             Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk and             ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.             Inflorescences not fragrant.         -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to early fall in             Germany; flowering continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about 20 days             on the plant; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about 40             inflorescences per plant.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oblate. Color: Towards the apex, 195B; towards the             base, 144A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 8 mm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle             height: About 3.5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.3 cm.         -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated-oblong to broadly ligulate.             Orientation: Initially upright, then about 90° from vertical             or perpendicular to peduncle. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width:             About 9 mm. Apex: Obtuse or emarginate. Base: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous, satiny. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:             About 20 arranged in a single whorl. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Between 5A and 6A. When opening, lower             surface: 6C. Fully opened, upper surface: 5A; color becoming             closer to 5C with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             6D.         -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle.             Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five-pointed. Length: About             4.5 mm. Width, at apex: About 2 mm. Width, at base: About             0.9 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 245.             Color: Immature: 15A. Mature: Apex: 15B. Mid-section:             Between 145C and 145D. Base: 145B.         -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence:             About 35. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             margins, papery. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Between             146A and 146D overlain with between 199B and 199D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Between 13A and 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid.             Anther color: 15A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About             5.5 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: 15B. Style             length: About 3 mm. Style color: 15D overlain with N144B.             Ovary color: Between 145C and 145D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Argyranthemums has not been observed on plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures from about 2° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘Wesaryel’ as illustrated and described. 